Our "Team" leader out to lunch

[Whoosh!]

These are all really bad signs for FLOPS. Huge pilot attrition, horrible managers, mx bases closing, airplanes being sold and then leased back for short term cash, airplanes being parked because they don't have the crews, record losses, worst sales numbers in the company's history, bad press, etc, etc. I realize the union and the pilots are doing the right thing but "hanging in there" probably isn't a good idea at this point.... might want to start working on plan B pretty quick. There's an abundance of better jobs for pilots with fractional experience. Almost a no brainer.

 

[netjetwife]

Whoosh, it doesn't see that clear to me. I see it as a tough decision. To me there are valid reasons for wanting to see the fight through to a resolution: a matter of standing on principle; commitment to one's peers; the uneasiness of changing horses in the middle of the stream, wrong time if a move is required, etc. Depending on the pilot, any combination could apply. It's hard to read the leaves when the tea's still swirling. That said, the FLOPS definitely aren't encouraging any of the pilots to stay yet... Thus, my good luck wishes to all referred to those who leave and to those who stay and fight.

In the meantime, even if you're planning to leave, please stand firm (don't do them any favors) right up to your last day--and in your resignation letter, too. Your negotiators and fellow pilots will appreciate the solidarity and the message from angry pilots turning away in disgust will have even more impact.
Best Wishes,
NJW

 

[Frac Cap]

NJW, to answer your question, I am not sure on the exact date. But I believe the final signing was at the end of November. It is already a done deal, unless we are being misled by management again. But as I said before, not a single peep out of HIG, like welcome to the family, or we have big plans for Flops, or any plans for that matter. The once optimistic beginning, has turned to pessimism from the sound of crickets. No new core aircraft, no hiring plans for growth (just 9 for attrition).

The not so visible victims are our families. All our families. From the wifes that don't get the full budget to fill the pantry, to the kids that don't get a college education. I for one am now going into financial lock-down and unfortunately my kids will be the victims on that one with our now canceled family vacation. But I know Baboo will probably take the company jet on yet another family vacation.

I think it is about time HIG make upper management share in some of our cutbacks on their extravagant perks.

just my 1 cent (still can't afford 2)

 

[jonjuan]

Why not leave for NJA and be able to take your family vacation and fund your kids education?

 

[netjetwife]

Frac Cap, I know it's hard to see down the road when you're fighting in the trenches, but I do think that the example you're setting for your children is an all-important lesson on standing up for what's right. Feel free to tell them that I respect and admire your family (the kids included) for the sacrifice y'all are making to try to improve the situation for yourselves, your fellow workers, and the industry. Please keep me posted on how things go for your family.
Best Wishes,
Netjetwife

JJ, Options pilots have invested a lot of time and effort in that company. They shouldn't have to go someplace else. If the NJ pilots had done that instead of making a stand they wouldn't have the contract they now enjoy. The FLOPS need to get their act together and work as hard and as professionally as the pilots do. That means hammering out a contract this spring/summer. Frac pilots essentially do the same job and so huge discrepancies in pay are not right.

 

[netjetwife]

The not so visible victims are our families. All our families. From the wifes that don't get the full budget to fill the pantry, to the kids that don't get a college education. ... just my 1 cent (still can't afford 2)

EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT POST!! If all the pilots will speak out this loudly and clearly the contract battle will end sooner. NJW

 

[Frac Cap]

Why not leave for NJA and be able to take your family vacation and fund your kids education?

My intentions are to make the best choice for my family that I have available to me, with the information that I have at the time. I am currently working to better my vocational options. Just saying someone should go to Net Jets doesn't mean that they will get an interview among all the other applicants. Even with an interview, that doesn't guarantee a job. I know of a lot of really good guys that for whatever reason didn't make the cut. So until I have an opportunity presented to me that is better for my family, I will continue to try to educate management on what they either can't or refuse to see to try to make this a better place.

to borrow some appropriate lyrics, if you can't be with the one you love, love the one your with. We need to try to make this the best place possible with a fair contract.

 

[B19 Flyer]

It's not a battle!

EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT POST!! If all the pilots will speak out this loudly and clearly the contract battle will end sooner. NJW

There you go again with the win-lose scenario.

It's not supposed to be a battle, it's negotiations. That's what all the pro-union propaganda is always spitting out...

If the pilots swallow what you a spitting out and vote a union on to the property, then don't they have to accept what the union leadership is doing?

It's a negotation, not a battle...

Get it right, it's not about winning or losing, because if it's about that, the company has already lost because there is a union on the property.

 

[Whoosh!]

B19, you'll go to the grave fighting unions and not have made a lick of difference. Now, that's a life worth living.

 

[chingaso]

.

Get it right, it's not about winning or losing, because if it's about that, the company has already lost because there is a union on the property.

The company lost when it put in place a CEO that doesn't know anything about aviation. There is a union on the property for no other reason than the fact that Michael Sheeringa was placed in charge. Anything you want to blame on the union, you must first address why it came into reality. Anything you want to blame on the union, you must first blame Michael Sheeringa, who is single-handedly responsible for the union's existence.

He is the sole, primary, number one, singular reason:
-a union was voted in
-why Flight Options is the least profitable fractional provider in the nation
-why the company has historic employee attrition
-why the company has historic owner attrition
-why Flight Options can't attract new pilots
-why the FAA is investigating an infamously corrupt maintenance department
-why the company's reputation has been ruined
-why Cleveland is dysfunctionally incompetent
-why Flight Options employees are the lowest paid in the fractional industry, and the hardest working.

Most pilots didn't want a union at Flight Options. Obviously, things got so bad that it became the lesser of two evils. Michael Sheeringa is the only reason that happened.

To oppose the Union presently, means you support Michael Sheeringa and all of the points made above. To oppose the Union and support Michael Sheeringa means you support pencil-whipping maintenance, it means you support dangerous and abusive scheduling practices, it means you support pitifully low standards of living, it means you support pitifully low pilot wages, it means you support robbing-Peter-to-pay-Paul, it means you support stepping over dollars to pick up dimes, and it means you actually support all of the things that this one man has done to hurt a lot of people and their families.

It is a full-grown man's responsibility to provide and protect his wife and children. Thats the #1. When someone or some thing threatens your wife and kids, you don't sit on your hands, you do something. Since no one would listen to any of the pilots, or take any of them seriously, they were forced to organize in order to get their voices heard and their families better provided for. Period. Its that simple.

The company IS its employees. Nothing more. The company lost when Michael Sheeringa stepped foot on the tarmac out front.